The National tribune., 1887-09-22
FORT BLAKELY.
Something About the Second Division OF the Six.
tcpnth Corps.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AS the article
written by Comrade Conover in n recent issue
of your paper leaves the Second Division OF the
Sixteenth Corps entirely out Of the charge OF
Fort Blakely on the 9th Of April, ls6o, VIII
call his attention to few corrections that
should be made 10 his statement. The First
and Third Divisions Of the Sixteenth Corps,
commanded respectively by Gems. McAfthur
and Carr, We're stationed on the south side OF
Bayou Minetta aud in front Of Spanish Fort,
and the llth No. which the article referred 10
places before Blakely, belonged to Gen. Me-
AE:hur's command.
The Second Division, commanded by Gen.
Garrard, was composed as follows: First Bri-
gade, Col. John /. RinakeT, ,commanding-ll9!h
aud l22d ILL.,, s9th Ind. and 2lst Mo-; Second
Brigade Brig Gen. Gilbert commanding-2Ith
and Bed Iowa, 9th Mimi, 10th Kan. and ll1th
Ill; Third Brigade, Col. Harris commanding
llth Wis, 35th n. j., 5Sth Ill. and 11Sth y. Y.
Besides the infantry, Rices Ohio battery, the
9th Ind. battery, and probably another artillery
company, belonged TO the command; also an
Indiana battery, commanded by Capt. Gin,
from Gen. McArthurs force, volunteered its
service in the affair aud did gallant work.
At the commencement OF the siege the COM
mand was in the reserve near Sibleys Mill,
but on the afternoon of April the division
moved into position in front OF and near the
center Of the rebel line, at the right of Gen.
{. c. Andrews's Division, Of the Thirteenth
Corps, and on the lei ftof Gen. Steele's command.
After throwing up intrenchments and having
several heavy skirmishes. with a terrible artil-
lery fire on both sides, we advanced our lines
from 100 TO 500 yards between the 81 aud the
9th. On the afternoon Of April g. at precisely
o'clock, the three brigadcs were in line in their
intrenchments, and few minutes later the
bugle call-the signal agreed on-was sounded
for a charge. The boys being let loose on the
frowning fortifcatiOns of Blakely, went in in
a manner peculiar TO Gen. A. J. Smiths "Guer-
rilas,' and of course got there" In due form.
The distance from our intrenchments TO the
rebel works was from quarter TO three-quarters
of mile, and over fat, level bottom, which had
been heavily timhered, but the trees had been
| fel!ed in such way rs TO best obstruct our ad-
vance. Besides this, before we reached the in
treuchments Of the enemy we had TO tackle a
double line Of abatis and thick line of torpe-
does buried in the ground and attached TO wires
| stretched from stump 10 stump. The division
captured all the artillery in front Of it and
about 1900 prisoners, including 200 officers
among whom were Gems Lydell aud Thomas
and Coils. MCGOWAN and Gates, besides mum
! Der of b2tte-Aags.
The writer of this, who was at that time or
staff duty at Gen. Garrard's headquarters
does not propose 10 discuss what any Other
! division did in that charge. Being on duty al
! the front, he is not supposed to be posted as e
| the movements of the Thirteenth Corps, OF
Steeles command, hut the facts stated are re
4 ported from personal observation on the ground
My memory of the affair is refreshed by a lette
from Capt. w. Il. Donnan. the gentleman!
and efficient acting A. A.-G. OF Gen. Gilbert
Brigade. giving extracts from the official repOr
Of the siege.-T. G. CAPPs, First Lieutenant
Co. L, l22d ILL.,, and Brcyet Captain u. 5. V.
Greenfield, III.